Relating to the Creation of the College and Workforce Readiness Council

WHEREAS, the primary goal of Wisconsin's educational institutions is to endow students with the knowledge and skills necessary for citizenship and meaningful, productive work; and

WHEREAS, the current mismatch between the knowledge and skills possessed by Wisconsin's citizens and the knowledge and skills needed by Wisconsin's employers is a major contributing factor to the high number of unemployed residents; and

WHEREAS, post-secondary attainment including the acquisition of baccalaureate degrees or specific technical skills should be achievable for all students regardless of each student's background; and

WHEREAS, many other states have improved coordination between their educational institutions through the creation of an official pre-kindergarten through higher education (P-20) council or another similar body; and

WHEREAS, an effort aimed at improving such coordination would help further the state's goal of creating 250,000 jobs by 2015.

NOW THEREFORE, I, SCOTT WALKER, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of this State, and specifically by section 14.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes, do hereby create the College and Workforce Readiness Council ("Council") and provide as follows;

1. The Council shall consist of the following fifteen (15) members:

a. The Governor or designee, who shall serve as chair;

b. The Senate Majority Leader or designee;

c. The Senate Minority Leader or designee;

d. The Speaker of the Assembly or designee;

e. The Assembly Minority Leader or designee;

f. The State Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction or designee;

g. The Secretary of the Department of Children and Families or designee;

h. The Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development or designee;

S659i. The President of the University of Wisconsin System or designee;

j. The President of the Wisconsin Technical College System or designee;

k. The President of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities or designee;

l. A member representing Wisconsin's federally recognized tribes and appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor;

m. A member representing Wisconsin workers and appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor;

n. A member representing Wisconsin employers and appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor.

2. The Council shall exist for the exclusive purpose of recommending policies and programs to improve student readiness for college or career in the State of Wisconsin.

3. The Council shall prioritize improvement in the following areas:

a. Reducing dropout and remediation rates as well as income and racial achievement gaps therein;

b. Increasing the overall number of degrees and certificates awarded;

c. Expanding dual enrollment and dual credit opportunities to middle and high school students statewide;